Difficult life of a taxi driver in Singapore

I RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL

Hi,

I refer to the post of your blog regarding grouses of taxi drivers in Singapore.

One thing I understand is that KL taxi drivers actually own the taxi after repaying off the whole amount. And more so happy when they costs the same as a Singapore taxi but in RM$. They do not have to answer to anyone.

In Singapore, a normal taxi costs about $60K+. The hirer has to pay rental of $90 on average everyday. After 2 full years, the costs of the taxi can be recovered back but the poor hirer still continue to pay rental to the company. He does not own the taxi. He is still working for the company. Worse still, there are no benefits like MC, CPF, leave, bonus,etc. & has to work like a slave to earn more than $90 per day so as to make an earning. There is no freedom. If the driver wants to rest by taking offday, he still has to pay rental.

Thus how can the Singaporean taxi driver be happy?

I personally feel taxi drivers in Singapore are a bunch of pitiful people.